Container and pallet



Oct. 14, 1969 ug-rm, JR" ET AL 3,472,363

CONTAINER AND PALLET Filed Jan. 5. 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORSRUDOLPH a. RUSTIN,JR.

DOLPHIN o. ovemomm '6 WILLIAM E. HUGHES ATTORNEYS Oct. 14, 1969 5 gusnfl, R ET AL 3,472,363

CONTAINER AND PALLET 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5. 1968 mvsm'oasRUDOLPH a. RUSTIN,JR. DOLPHIN D.OVERTON,III WILLIAM E. HUGHES BYZmeya/z(Q'J ie/zdersolt ATTORNEYS Oct. 14, 1969 R. a. us'rm, JR.. ETAL'3,472,363

CONTAINER AND PALLET Filed Jan. 5. 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 5.

I NVENTORs 33 RUDOLPH B. RUST|N,JR. 5 DOLPHIN D. OVERTON, II

WILLIAM E. HUGHES BY Image/z Qf'leaduson ATTORNEYS United States Patent3,472,363 CONTAINER AND PALLET Rudolph B. Rustin, Jr., and Dolphin D.Overton III,

US. Cl. 206-46 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container forhandling cylindrical articles is provided. The container has a basewhich includes skids for raising the container off of the floor andpermitting the insertion of a lifting means under the container, hollowlongitudinal members for holding the cylindrical article in place, and abottom panel. Structural framework extends up from the base to give theassembled container suflicient strength to allow filled containers to bestacked on top of each other. The container further includes a sleevewhich encloses the structural framework and rests on the base, and atopwhich fits over the top of the sleeve and cooperates with the sleeveand the base to enclose the article. The container is secured togetherby tying means passing through the hollow, longitudinal members andadditional tying means passing through the skids. The base may be usedeither alone as a pallet for handling the article prior to assembly ofthe container or independently of the container for handling articlesgenerally.

This invention relates to improved containers and also to improvedpallets which may act as the base of containers. More particularly, thisinvention relates to improved containers which may be rapidly assembledand disassembled and which may be used to package cylindrical rolls andthe like, and to improved pallets which may be utilized as the base ofthe containers for cylindrical articles.

There has been a continuing search for containers which may be easilyassembled about an article. Assembly of the container about an articlewhich has been placed on a container base eliminates the problemsinvolved in lowering a heavy article into a container having verticalside walls. It is desirable to assemble containers at the place wherethe containers are used. This procedure permits the containers to beshipped to the user and stored by the user in a knocked down form; thussaving shipping costs and storage space.

In the past such containers have been made largely of paperboard. Thesecontainers have suffered from the fact that when the assembledcontainers are stacked on top of each other the containers arefrequently crushed and their contents are damaged.

It is a common practice in the material handling art to place thearticles on a pallet to reduce the manual handling of the article andfacilitate movement of the article by a lift truck or the like. Previousattempts to provide pallets that may be used with cylindrical articleshave presented problems. If the pallet has a flat base, a cylindricalarticle transfers its weight to a single line or area of contact alongthe base. Some cylindrical articles, for example, large rolls of cloth,may be damaged by this type of weight transfer.

It is desirable to ship an article on the pallet used in handling thearticle at the point of shipment, for example a manufacturing plant,because the operations of removing the article from the pallet andinserting the article into a separate shipping container can beeliminated.

Thus, it is preferable that the pallet used with the article is capableof becoming the base of the container used to ship the article.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide animproved container which is easy to assemble and to secure about anarticle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container which may beassembled and secured about an article placed on the base of thecontainer without requiring movement of the article.

Still another object of an embodiment of this invention is to providepallets and containers for rolls of cloth and the like in which thepallets and containers are designed to eliminate excessive deformationof the cloth due to transfer of its weight to the supporting structureof thepallet or container base.

Yet another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provideimproved containers which can be stacked on 'each other without crushingor distorting articles packed in the containers.

A further object of this invention is: to provide a new and improvedpallet which can be used to transport and which can act as a base for acontainer for the article.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth inpart in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious fromthe description, or may be learned by practice of the invention, theobjects and advantages being realized and attained by means of theinstrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

To achieve the foregoing objects and in accordance with its purpose, asembodied and broadly described, this invention may be described as acontainer comprising a base including a pair of horizontal longitudinalhollow members extending substantially the entire length of thecontainer, and means for securing the members in a spaced parallelrelationship. The container also includes enclosure means mounted on thebase for enclosing the top, ends, and sides of the article and securingmeans passing through the hollow members and around the enclosure forsecuring the enclosure to the base.

The invention may also be described as a container for cylindricalarticles comprising a base which includes a pair of longitudinal membersfor supporting the article and preventing lateral movement of thearticle with each of the members including a sloped surface extendingthe length of the container. The base also has means for securing themembers in a spaced parallel relationship with the sloped surfacesextending upwardly and outwardly of the axis of the article and spacedless than the diameter of the article apart. The container also includesenclosure means mounted on the base for enclosing the article and meansare provided for securing the article to the base.

The base of the container of this invention may be used as a pallet forhandling the article prior to assembly of the container or independentlyfor handling articles generally.

The invention in its prefererd embodiments provides a structuralframework mounted on the base inside of the enclosure. It is alsopreferred that the enclosure have openings aligned with the ends of thehollow members and that the tying means pass through the hollow members,out the openings and around the enclosure, to secure the enclosure tothe base.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements shown and described. The accompanyingdrawings which are incorporated in and constitute a part of thisspecification, illustrate certain embodiments of the invention and, to-

gether with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the assembledcontainer of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base of the container of FIG. 1 andillustrates the use of the container base as a pallet for a cylindricalarticle;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of another embodiment of the base of thecontainer of this invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the containerof the invention with the enclosure sleeve sectioned and shown inshortened form for ease of reading of the drawing;

FIG. 5 is an end elevation of a partially assembled containerillustrating the base and the structural framework of the container ofFIG. 4 and omitting the enclosure sleeve for ease of reading of thedrawing; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 5.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferredembodiments of the invention.

In FIG. 1, a container constructed in accordance with this invention isshown, comprising a base generally 10, an enclosure generally 12 mountedon the base, and tying means generally 14 for securing the enclosure tothe base.

As best seen in FIG. 2, base includes a pair of horizontal longitudinalmembers 16 extending substantially the entire length of the container.As here embodied the horizontal members, generally 16, are hollow andare of triangular cross-sections. Each of members 16 is comprised ofthree (3) slats 18, 20, and 22 held in the form of a triangular solid bytying means 24. The mating edges of slats 18, 20, and 22 are mitered toprovide a smooth fit between the slats and improve the structuralrigidity of the members 16.

Preferably the ends of each of members 16 have notches 26 and 28 cut outof their inner and upper edges for use in assembling the containers aswill be described in more detail hereinafter.

In accordance with the invention the base also includes means forsecuring the bottom members in a spaced parallel relationship. As hereembodied these means are comprised of a pair of parallel skids 32extending perpendicular to members 16. Members 16 may be fixed to skids32 by connecting means 33 such as screw nails best seen in FIGS. 2 and3.

It is preferred that skids 32 extend slightly outside of the ends ofmembers 16 to provide an abutment for the remainder of the containerwhen it is assembled. Also, it is desirable to align the hollow members16 so that their corresponding ends terminate in a common verticalplane.

As may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the triangular shape of members '16permits a fiat surface, provided by slats 18, to be secured to the skids32, thus assuring a strong connection between members 16 and skids 32.

A hollow triangular cross-section formed by three slats is preferred forlongitudinal members 16 to impart strength and rigidity to the base witha minimum of weight. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatvarious crosssectional configurations could be used.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and best seen in FIG. 2,base 10 also includes a bottom panel 34 secured between members 16 andskids 32.

Bottom panel 34 is preferably rectangular in shape extending the lengthof members 16 and extending beyond each of the ends of skids 32 and theouter side edges of members 16. The portion of bottom panel 34 extendingbeyond skids 32 and members 16 forms flaps 36 which are used inassembling the container as will be described in more detailhereinafter. Preferably the outer edges of flaps 36 are tapered asshown.

The preferred means for securing members 16 in a spaced parallelrelationship includes skids 32. The skids also lift the container off ofthe ground and permit the forks of a lift truck to be inserted under thecontainer.

As may be seen in FIG. 2 members 16 are spaced on opposite sides of thevertical plane passing through the axis 38 of the article 40. It isdesirable for assembling the containers of the invention that the outerside edges of members 16 extend slightly beyond the widest part of thearticle to establish the transverse dimension of the container. However,the outer side edges of members 16 should not extend appreciably beyondthe article because it is desirable to make the transverse dimension ofthe container as small as possible for a given article.

The outer side edges of members 16 preferably are positioned adjacentthe flaps 36 of bottom panel 34. This alignment reinforces the sideedges of the bottom of the assembled container and also simplifiesalignment of the elements of the container when the container isassembled.

The triangular shape of each of members 16 provides a sloped surface 42on the outside of slats 20. Since the length of members 16 isarbitrarily selected as just slightly larger than the length of article40, sloped surfaces 42 will be adjacent the article throughout itsentire length. As may also be seen in FIG. 2, sloped surfaces 42 extendupwardly and outwardly of the axis 38 of article 40 and are spacedapart, at their inner edge, a distance less than the diameter of article40. By spacing sloped surfaces 42 with their interior edges positionedless than the diameter of article 40 apart, article 40 is tangentiallysupported by each sloped surface 42. If desired the article may also besupported by bottom panel 34.

Two points of support for circular cross-sections of a cylindricalarticle are necessarily provided by the base if the transversedimensions separating sloped surfaces 42 is less than the diameter ofcylindrical article 40. Basic trigonometric and geometric relationshipsmay be used to ascertain the cross-section and horizontal spacing ofhorizontal members 16 if three (3) points of support for cross-sectionsof a cylindrical article of a given diameter are desired. After definingthe configuration of the crosssection of horizontal members 16, oneskilled in the art may easily determine the horizontal spacing of thesloped surfaces 42 which will provide support for a cylindrical articleof a given diameter by sloped surfaces 42 and the bottom panel 34.

Base 10 may be used alone as a pallet, may be used in conjunction withother elements to form a complete container, or may be used first as apallet for transporting the article prior to packaging and then as abase for the container when the article is packaged.

When the base 10 is to be used as a pallet only, it is preferable toeliminate the flaps 36 on bottom panel 34. In situations where a bottompanel is not necessary to give support to the article or to keep thearticle clean, it may be desirable to eliminate panel 34 entirely.

Though the various parts of the base may be made of any suitablematerial, preferably slats 18, 20, and 22 are of plywood, skids 32 areof wood, bottom panel 34 is of paperboard, and tying means 24 is ofsteel banding.

Another embodiment of a base for the container of the invention is shownin FIG. 3 where the orientation of the horizontal members 16 is changed.Here as in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, three (3) slats18, 20 and 22 are rigidly attached to form a member 16 having across-section which is triangular in shape. The cross-sectionillustrated in FIGS. l3 is that of an isosceles right triangle. In theembodiment of FIG. 3, slat 22 which forms one of the legs of thetriangle is positioned flush with the bottom panel. One leg of thetriangular cross-section, slat 18, is inclined upwardly and extendsoutwardly from the longitudinal center line of the base. Another leg ofthe triangle, slat 20, extends upward from the outer edge of slat 22.

Thus as may be seen in comparing the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2and 3, by varying the orientation of a pair of triangular members 16with a predetermined cross-section size, the members can be used inbases designed for articles having two (2) different diameters with theoverall transverse dimension of each base kept to a minimum.

As shown in FIG. 3 a bed liner generally 66 is provided to add strengthto bottom panel 34 and to cushion the transfer of weight of acylindrical article to the base. The bed liner 66 includes a centralportion 68 positioned on bottom panel 3-4 and side portions 70 whichoverlay sloped surfaces 42 of each of horizontal members 16. If desired,padding or other materials (not shown) may be placed on the bed liner tofurther cushion the article. When the base illustrated in FIG. 2 is usedas a base of a container, it preferably also utilizes a bed liner likeliner 66. The liner may be constructed of any suitable material and ispreferably paperboard.

In accordance with the invention, an enclosure, generally 12, is mountedon the base for enclosing the top, ends, and sides of the article. Theenclosure 12 protects the packaged article from dust, dirt, andabrasion. As here embodied and as may be best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4,enclosure 12 includes a sleeve 80 forming the four (4) outer side wallsof the container and a top 82 having depending flanges 84 about itsperiphery forming the top wall of the container. Sleeve 80 includes four(4) openings 86 aligned with the ends of the hollow members 16 so thatunobstructed passages are provided through the entire length of thecontainer.

With reference to FIG. 1, openings 86 are sized and aligned so thatsleeve '80 continuously overlays the end edges, that are elevated fromthe bottom panel, of hollow members 16. The end edges of the hollowmembers 16 which are flush with bottom panel 10 may be exposed. Sleeve80 also overlays the end edges of bottom panel and thus the ends of thecontainers are substantially sealed when the enclosure 12 is secured tothe base.

Sleeve 80 may be formed from one or more foldable blanks scored forfolding to form the side walls of the container. A sleeve made from asingle blank is illustrated in FIG. 4. The folded blank is secured inshape by any suitable means such as Wire staples (not shown). The sleeveis of course slightly wider than the article to be packaged and thelength of the sleeve slightly exceeds the length of the article.Corrugated paperboard is a suitable material of construction for thesleeve.

Top 82 is preferably of a material such as corrugated paperboard whichis easy to form into the desired configuration.

As may be best seen in FIG. 1 tying means 14 are provided for securingthe enclosure to the base. As here embodied, the tying means includeslongitudinal steel banding 88 which passes through the hollow members16, out the openings 86 in the enclosure 12, and around the enclosure.Additional tying means 90 are provided which extend across the undersideof bottom panel 34 between the skids 32 and around the enclosure.

The transverse positioning of the tying means 14 and the additionaltying means 90 provides maximum strength for the container whileresulting in minimum distortion of the container. It can be seen thatthe tying means 14 may be passed through the hollow members 16 andaround the enclosure 12 without lifting of the article or the partiallyassembled container. Similarly, the additional tying means 90 may beextended across the underside of the bottom panel between the skids andaround the enclosure without movement of the article or the container.

Preferred embodiments of the invention include a framework to strengthenthe containers and to permit the containers to be stacked on top of eachother. As here embodied, and as may be best seen in FIGS. 4-6 theframework, generally 108, includes a pair of end frames, generally 110,and a top frame, generally 112.

End frames 110 each comprise a vertical member 114 and a pair ofhorizontal members 116 attached to the vertical member 114 on the outersurface thereof with the outer surface of the horizontal memberspositioned in the same plane. Suitable means such as nails (not shown)are provided to attach the horizontal members to the vertical member.The lower edge of the bottom horizontal frame members 116 is preferablypositioned above the bottom edge of the vertical member a distanceslightly less than the height of the members 16 of base 10. The uppersurface of the upper horizontal frame members 116 is positioned slightlybelow the top surface of the vertical members 114. The length of thehorizontal frame members 116 is preferably substantially the same as thedistance apart of the outer sides of members 16. The height of verticalframe members 114 is preferably slightly larger than the diameter of thearticle to be packaged and the width of vertical members 114 ispreferably slightly larger than the distance apart of the inside edgesof members 16.

As here embodied and as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the top frame 112includes a pair of spaced main members 118 which are to be mounted onthe end frames 110. Main members 118 are slightly longer than thearticle to be packaged, and extend between the end frames 110. Top frame112 also includes a pair of depending members 120 each rigidly attachedto one of the main members by nails or the like (not shown). Thedepending members 120 are shorter in length than the main members andare spaced inwardly of each of the end edges of the main members 118 adistance which approximates,

the thickness of the horizontal member 116 of end frame 110.

The horizontal main members 118 are of a thickness substantially thesame as the distance which the top of vertical frame member 114 of endframe 110 extends above the top horizontal frame member 116, and are ofa width substantially the same as the distance that the horizontal framemember 116 extends horizontally beyond one of the side edges of verticalframe member 16.

When framework 108 is assembled, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the two (2)main members 118 rest on the tops of the two (2) top horizontal framemembers 116 with the end edges of depending members 120 abutting theinside surfaces of horizontal frame members 116 and with the ends of theinside edges of horizontal members 118 abutting the top of the sideedges of vertical frame members 114.

The method of assembly of the container may be best seen in FIG. 4. Thebase will have been preassembled into a pallet as shown in FIG. 2 or 3.The specific embodiment here illustrated would be a pallet as shown inFIG. 3. Since the pallet in this instance is designed to be used as thebase of a container, liner 66 would be in place underneath the articleto be packaged. Thus, when the article is received at the packagingarea, it is already on the pallet with the bed liner 66 in place betweenthe article and the remainder of the pallet.

The packaging of the article may then proceed in the following manner.The sleeve is slid into place around the article with the bottom of thesides of the sleeve resting on bottom panel 34 between flaps 36 andmembers 16. The bottom of the ends of sleeve 80 rests on the exposedupper surface of skids 32 with openings 86 aligned with the openings inmembers 16.

If it is desired that the container be structurally strong, it ispreferred that a framework next be inserted into the container. Itshould be noted, however, that the container may be used without theframework if the structural strength is not necessary. The two endframes are inserted at the end of the article with the side edges of thevertical member of the end frame inserted in notches 26 of members 16and with the bottom edge of vertical member 114 resting on the topsurface of bottom panel 34. The bottom edge of the bottom horizontalmember 116 rests on notches 28 of members 16.

The depth of notches 26 is substantially equal to the thickness ofvertical member 114 plus the thickness of one of horizontal members 116.The depth of notches 28 is substantially the same as the thickness ofone of horizontal members 116 of end frame 110. Thus, when end framemembers 110 are in place, the outer edges of the horizontal members 116are in substantial alignment with the ends of members 16 as shown inFIG. 6.

Main members 118 of framework 108 are next put in place with their lowersurfaces resting on the top of upper horizontal members 116 of endframes 11% and with their inner edges engaging the side edges ofvertical members 114 of end frames 110. Depending members 120 extendbetween the top horizontal members 116 of the two end frames 110 withthe inner surfaces of the end panels 116 abutting the ends of dependingmembers 120.

With the frame thus assembled, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that the container is strengthened against compression forcesfrom its sides, ends, or top. Specifically, the abutting relationship ofthe inner surface of vertical member 114 and the notches 26 in members16, and the abutting relationship of top horizontal members 116 with theends of depending members 120 causes the container to resist compressionforces applied at its ends.

The abutting relationship of main members 118 with the side edges ofvertical member 114 causes the container to resist compression forcesfrom the sides of the container. This sidewise strength of the containeris further enhanced by the fact that end frame 110 is mounted in notches106 of members 16 which are in turn rigidly connected to skids 32.

The positioning of main members 118 on the top of horizontal members 116which in turn are connected to vertical members 114 which rest on skids32 provides strength to the container to resist vertical compressionforces. It should be noted that such forces will be transmitted throughthe framework to the skids and thus will not damage the article in thecontainer.

After the framework is in place, top 82 is slid over the top edges ofsleeve 80 to close the container. Tying means 14, which are preferablysteel bands, are then inserted into openings 86 in one end of sleeve 80,through the hollow center of members 16, out of openings 86 in the otherend of sleeve 80, and across the top of the container where each of thebands is then fastened to itself in conventional manner, as by clamping.Next, additional tying means 90 are wrapped around the sides of thecontainer passing underneath the container in the area between skids 32and across top 82. These additional tying means are then secured tothemselves to complete the package.

In accordance with the invention, new and improved containers forarticles, and pallets which may also be used as the base of thecontainer are provided. The containers are capable of being rapidlyassembled about an article placed on the base without handling of thearticle. The preferred embodiments of the container of the inventionpossess compressive strength to permit the assembled containers to bestacked on top of each other even when filled with a heavy article.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations could be made in the present container andpallet without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Forexample, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that there areequivalent materials of construction which could be substituted for thepreferred materials set forth above.

What is claimed is:

1. A container for packaging a cylindrical article of a given diameterwith the axis of the article disposed in a substantially horizontalplane, said container comprising:

(A) A base including a pair of horizontally extending longitudinalmembers for supporting the article and preventing lateral movement ofthe article, each of said members having a sloped surface extendingsubstantially the entire length of the container, and means for securingsaid members in a spaced parallel relationship with their slopedsurfaces sloping upwardly and outwardly of the axis of the article andspaced less than the diameter of the article apart;

(B) A structural framework comprising vertically extending end framesmounted on said base for transfer of downward compressive force theretoand for preventing horizontal movement of the article along its axis,and a horizontally extending top frame extending between said end framesfor imparting strength to the container to prevent crushing bycompressive forces;

(C) An enclosure mounted on said base for enclosing the top, ends, andsides of the article, said enclosure extending around the outside ofsaid framework; and

(D) Means for securing said enclosure to said base.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said base includes a bottom paneland said longitudinal members are mounted on said bottom panel in spacedparallel relationship to permit the cylindrical article to receivesupport from said sloped surfaces and said bottom panel.

3. A container comprising:

(A) A base including a pair of horizontal, longitudinal, hollow membersextending substantially the entire length of the container, and meansfor securing said hollow members in a spaced parallel relationship;

(B) A structural framework comprising vertically extending end framesmounted on said base for transfer of downward compressive load theretoand for preventing horizontal movement of the article along its axis anda horizontally extending top frame supported by and extending betweensaid end frames for imparting strength to the container to preventcrushing by compressive force;

(C) An enclosure mounted on said base for enclosing the top, ends, andside of the article, said enclosure including openings aligned with theends of said hollow members, said enclosure extending around the outsideof said framework; and

(D) Tying means for securing said enclosure to said base, said tyingmeans passing through said hollow members, out the openings in saidenclosure, and around said enclosure.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein said means for securing said hollowmembers in a spaced parallel relationship includes a bottom panel, skidsattached to the underside of the bottom panel to permit insertion oflifting means under said bottom panel, and connecting means forconnecting said members and said skids.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein said skids are aligned transverselyof said hollow members.

6. The container of claim 5 wherein said means for securing saidenclosure to said base includes additional tying means extending acrossthe underside of said bottom panel between said skids and around saidenclosure.

7. The container of claim 9 wherein said longitudinal hollow membershave a triangular cross-section.

8. The container of claim 7 wherein the corresponding ends of each ofsaid triangular hollow members terminate in a common vertical plane andwherein said hollow members include at each end a pair of cutouts, saidcutouts extending inwardly from the ends of the hollow members andaligned for insertion of said end frames into said cutouts to place theouter surface of said end frames in the common vertical planes.

9. A container for packaging a cylindrical article of a given diameterwith the axis of the article disposed in a substantially horizontalplane, said container comprising:

(A) A base including (1) a bottom panel (2) a pair of horizontallyextending hollow longitudinal members for supporting the article andpreventing lateral movement of the article; each of said members havinga sloped surface extending substantially the entire length of thecontainer, and means for securing said members in a spaced parallelrelationship with their sloped surfaces sloping upwardly and outwardlyof the axis of the article, and with the interior edges of said slopedsurfaces spaced less than the diameter of the article apart;

(B) A structural framework including (1) vertically extending end framesengaging said base for transfer of downward compressive forces theretoand for preventing horizontal movement of the article along its axis;

(2) a horizontally extending top frame supported by and extendingbetween said end frames for imparting strength to the container toprevent crushing by compressive force;

(C) An enclosure mounted on said base for enclosing the top, ends, andsides of the article and said framework, and including openings alignedwith the ends of said longitudinal members; and

(D) Tying means for securing said enclosure to said base, said tyingmeans passing through said hollow members, out the openings in saidenclosure, and around said enclosure.

10. The container of claim 9 including a bed liner having a centralportion which overlays said bottom panel and side flaps which aresupported by said sloped surfaces.

11. The container of claim 9 wherein said sloped surfaces presenttangential support surfaces to the cylindrical article.

12. The container of claim 9 wherein said sloped surfaces are spaced topermit the cylindrical article to receive support from said slopedsurfaces and said bottom panel.

13. The container of claim 9 wherein said longitudinal hollow memberincludes three wooden slats rigidly attached to form a member with atriangular cross-section and wherein the face of one slat of each memberforms said sloped surface and the face of a second slat of each memberis positioned flush on said bottom panel.

14. The container of claim 13 wherein the corresponding ends of each ofsaid triangular hollow members terminate in a common vertical plane, andwherein said hollow members include at each end cutouts across the endportions of the slat forming said sloped surface and across the endportion of each of the other slats which lies adjacent said slopedsurface, said cutouts extending inwardly from the ends of the hollowmembers to allow insertion of said end frames in said cutouts with theouter surface of said end frames positioned in the common verticalplane.

15. The container of claim 9 wherein said base includes skids attachedto the underside of the bottom panel to permit the insertion of liftingmeans under said bottom panel.

16. The container of claim 15 wherein said skids are alignedtransversely of said hollow members and including additional tying meansextending across the underside of said panel between said skids andaround said enclosure.

17. A package for the shipping of a cylindrical article,

said package comprising:

(A) A cylindrical article of a given diameter, the axis of said articledisposed in a substantially horizontal plane;

(B) A base including a pair of transversely spaced, horizontallyextending hollow longitudinal members for tangentially supporting thecylindrical article and preventing lateral movement of the article, eachof said members having a sloped surface extending substantially theentire length of the container, and means for securing said members in aspaced parallel relationship with their sloped surfaces sloping upwardlyand outwardly of the axis of the article and spaced less than thediameter of the article apart;

(C) An enclosure mounted on said base for enclosing the top, ends, andsides of the article, said enclosure including openings aligned with theends of said longitudinal members; and

(D) Means for securing said enclosure to said base including tying meanswhich pass through said hollow longitudinal members, out the openings insaid enclosure and around said enclosure.

18. The package of claim 17 in which said means for securing saidmembers in a spaced parallel relationship includes a bottom panel, andskids aligned transversely of said hollow members and attached to theunderside of said bottom panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,405,463 8/1946 Stivers 206-3 X2,685,398 8/ 1954 King 229-6 2,849,027 8/ 1958 Tetyak 206- X 2,968,3951/ 1961 Giebel 206-6-2 3,009,426 11/1961 Narnpa -367 3,146,733 9/1964Ljungdahl 108-52 3,315,800 4/1967 Wagner 206-46 3,337,036 8/ 1967Peterson 206-60 X MARTHA L. RICE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,472,363 Dated October 14, 1969 Rudolph B. Rustin, Jr., Dolphin D. Overton,[Hand Inventofls) wjmam E}, Hughes It is certified that error appears inthe above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Column 8, line 43, "side" should read sides column 8, line 54, after"permit" insert the column 8, line 63, "9" should read 3 SIGNED ANDSEALED Anew Edward M. Fletcher, Ir. mun i fi' Attes g Officercommissioner of Pa

